state legislatures

Donald Trump publicly criticized the US Supreme Court after it rejected, for the third time, a Republican-drawn congressional map in Missouri. The rebuke highlights growing tension between Trump and a court shaped by his own appointees, with the dispute centering on gerrymandering claims and how far state legislatures can go in redrawing districts for partisan advantage ahead of upcoming elections.

US states are moving ahead of the federal government on regulating artificial intelligence safety, with state legislatures drafting and passing their own AI rules. The trend highlights a growing gap in Washington, where comprehensive AI legislation has stalled, leaving individual states to set standards on issues like transparency, bias and consumer protection.

Attention is turning to Michigan's 2026 elections, with coverage highlighting the key races on the ballot alongside the state's history of presidential election results. As a key swing state, Michigan's contests for statewide offices and the legislature are expected to draw national focus, with its past voting patterns seen as a barometer for the broader political landscape heading into the midterms.

California State Senator Aisha Wahab, the first Afghan-American elected to a US state legislature, is calling on Washington to pursue diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan. She argues that continued isolation of the country worsens conditions for ordinary Afghans and that dialogue is needed to address humanitarian and security concerns, a position that is drawing attention among Afghan communities and policymakers.

US election rules in place for this year's contests may not carry over to the 2028 cycle, according to a Crain's Cleveland report. Voting procedures, ballot access requirements and campaign regulations are frequently revised between presidential cycles by state legislatures, courts and election officials, meaning both voters and candidates could face a different rulebook next time.

West Virginia lawmakers have taken the state Board of Education to court in a fight over the board's constitutional independence. The case raises questions about how much control the legislature can exert over education policy in the state, and the outcome could reshape governance of West Virginia's public school system.

Brendan Farrington, who covered Florida politics for the Associated Press for decades, has died at the age of 60. Farrington was a familiar byline on the state's political coverage, reporting on governors, legislatures and elections in one of the country's most closely watched political battlegrounds. Colleagues and Florida political figures are paying tribute to his long career.

Voters in the St. Cloud, Minnesota area are looking at competitive contests for a US House seat and several Minnesota legislative districts. Local coverage lays out the candidates and districts at stake, with attention on how these races could shape both congressional balance and control of the state Legislature.

The Seattle Times examines efforts to broker a truce between Washington's business community and the Democratic majority in the state legislature in Olympia. The report highlights negotiations aimed at easing tensions between lawmakers and employers over tax, labor and regulatory policy in the current session.

Dave Nissley and Dale Hamby are running against each other for the 100th House District seat in Pennsylvania, a race covered by Lancaster-area news outlets. The contest will decide who represents the district in the state House of Representatives. Little additional detail about the candidates' platforms or campaign positions has been reported so far.